Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Youth Urge Congress to Speak Out Against Anti-Armenian Hate Crimes in Turkey

Capitol Hill Silent Protest Part of National “Stain of
Denial” Campus Campaign Raising Awareness about the Armenian Genocide
and Legacy of Intolerance
WASHINGTON—Armenian Student Association (ASA) members from the across
the U.S. have teamed up with the Washington, DC Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) Ani chapter and local youth in organizing a silent
protest on Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress to condemn a series
of vicious hate crimes perpetrated against elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul, Turkey and to call on U.S. leaders to end Turkey’s gag rule on
proper U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

The protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office Building, on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31

The protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office
Building, on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31,
coinciding with the nationwide “Stain of Denial” campus protests
organized by the All-ASA and supported by the AYF and ARF Shant Student
organizations.
“The growing number of hate crimes against Armenians, and
particularly women, in Turkey is extremely disturbing. In only the past
two months more than four Armenians were attacked and killed in
Istanbul, once again bringing to light the strain of deeply rooted
hatred and intolerance in Turkish society that is encouraged by the
government and its continued policy of genocide denial,” explained
Knarik Gasparyan, Public Relations Director of the UCLA Armenian
Students Association, in Washington DC for a semester-long internship.
Gasparyan is referring to four widely publicized attacks against
elderly Armenian women, one fatal, which have taken place over the past
two months, in the historically Armenian-inhabited neighborhood of
Samatya, in central Istanbul. On Dec. 28, an 85-year-old Armenian woman
was repeatedly stabbed and killed in her home, with assailants carving a
cross on her chest. Other attacks include the Nov. 2012 beating of an
87-year-old Armenian woman, and a failed attempt to abduct an elderly
Armenian woman on Jan. 6. According to Turkish news outlet, Bianet, the
latest incident took place on Jan. 22, when 83-year-old Sultan Aykar was
attacked and repeatedly kicked until neighbors heard her screams and
rushed to assist her. Aykar lost sight in one eye because of the brutal
beating.
The beatings sparked a sharp response from Amnesty International
earlier this week, which called on “Turkish authorities to carry out a
prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the series of attacks
on elderly Armenian women in Istanbul.” The January 28th statement
stressed that “Hate crimes constitute a serious form of discrimination…
It is regrettable that Turkish legislation does not foresee any
legislative and policy measures ensuring that hate motives are
systematically and thoroughly investigated and duly taken into account
in the prosecution and sentencing.”
Questions regarding a government cover-up of the attacks abound, as
Turkish authorities attempt to downplay the crimes. “The incident was
inspired by robbery, there were no racial motives. Be sure we will find
the perpetrators. Good night,” tweeted Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni
Mutlu to his 100,000 followers. This and similar statements prompted
Amnesty International to express “concern at public statements made by
the authorities discounting the possibility of a racist motivation to
the attacks.” Meanwhile, the Turkish Human Rights Association stated
categorically that “the attacks were carried out with racist motives,”
according to a January 28th Economist article, “Turkey’s Armenians: The
Ghosts of 1915,” referencing the legacy of the Armenian Genocide and its
denial.
“The recent brutal murders and attacks on elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul once again showed the level of xenophobia and intolerance
within the Turkish society,” explained Bloomfield College student Armen
Sahakyan. “The events also serve as a sober reminder for us that the
Armenian Genocide issue is not yet resolved and we should work ever
harder to stand up to Turkey’s denial of that crime and secure the
return of what rightfully belongs to the Armenian nation.”

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